Furnace-wall construction



J. E. BIGELOW FURNACE WALL CONSTRUCTION F l y 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May22, 1928. 1,670,490

.Ffflnti'or- Jack E. 319 61/010,

wine-55 1,670,490 J. E. BIGELOW FURNACE WALL CONSTRUCTION May 22, 192s.v

ile y 5, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I zz 171 5 Illa] Patented May 22, 1928:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACK E. BIGELOW, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, IO BIGELOW ARCH COMPANY, 01' DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OFMICHIGAN.

FURNACE-WALL CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed May 8, 1926. Serial No. 106,245.

This invention concerns furnace-wall structures wherein the fire bricksor refractory elements are more or less independently supported in sucha manner that the expansion strains and stresses and the deformation ofthe bricks caused by the combination of the heat imposed on them and theweight or pressure 0 other bricks bearing on them have been eliminatedin large or substantial measure.

The new and improved construction 1 ncorporating the present. inventionpermits the repair of local deterioration of the brick work or WallWithout interference with the adjoining structure, and any of therefractory units can be readily removed and easily replaced.

A prime and leading object'of the invention is the provision of afurnace-wall of this type which is simple in structure and com arativelyeconomical to produce.

T e invention also concerns certain novel features of constructionin'furnace and similar walls, and relates more particularly, but notnecessarily restrictedly, to walls of this character which are protectedor cooled by water pipes, tubes or the like, the invention dealingparticularly with the means for demountably supporting the bricks orrefractories of the wall so that they may be readily re laced or renewedwithout interferencel wlth the cooling water-pipes referred to.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the refractory lining orbrick wall is supported wholly independently of the associated orcorrelated water-tube protecting means for shielding the wall from undueheat, but the arrangement is such that the refractories or bricks may berenewed from the inside of the furnace and without interference withsuch tubular or pipe construction.

To enable those skilled in this art to have a full and completeunderstanding of the invention and its several structural and functionaladvantages, in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this secification, and throughout the several views of which like referencecharacters ,have been employed to designate the same parts, I haveillustrated present desirable and preferred embodiments of theinvention.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, vertical section through a furnace-wallincorporating the new improvements and illustrating in dotted lines howone of the bricks or refractories may be removed after those immediatelybel'w, and above it have been taken out;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, horizontal section through the structureshown in Figure 1, with the outer or back wall omitted;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the inner front face of suchfurnace-wall showing the-cooling water-pipes which are also indicated inFigures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a artial horizontal section through a slight y modifiedconstruction wherein the water-pipes, instead of occupying grooves orchannels in the brick wall, are spaced slightly awayin front of thewall;

Figure 5 is a small broken perspective view of the wall structure withthe bricks arranged in vertical rows, such wall being usable by itselfor also in association with cooling water-pipes;

Figure 6 is a similar perspective view which shows the bricks instaggered rela-' tion;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical section through a modified embodimentof the invention; and

Figure 8 is a horizontal section on line 8-8 of Figure 7 Referring firstto the form or style of structure or species illustrated in Figures 1, 2and 3 of the drawings, it will be perceived that the constructioncomprises an outer wall 9 composed in part of horizontal I- beams 10,and an inner wall spaced inward-- ly away therefrom and incorporatingthe structural features of the present invention.

This ,inner wall includes a, series of upright, spaced T-bars 12supported in position by means of brackets 11 connected to the bars 10of the outer wall, although the particular manner of holding theseupright posts 12 in position is o no substantial moment.

The T-bars 12, of which onl one is shown in the drawings, support andhave fastened to them by bolts 13, 13, a number of vertically-separated,horizontal bars 14, 14:, each of which has a lower, wider, horizontal,inwardly-projecting ledge or shelf 15 terminating along its inner edgein a depending fiange or hook 16, and an upper, narrower, horizontal,inwardly-extending shelf or ledge 17 equipped along its rear portionwith an upstanding abutment-rib 18, these two ledges or shelves beingconnected or joined together by an apertured, vertical web 19 hearingagainst the inner faces of the posts or standards 12, and through theholes of which the attaching bolts 13 extend to perform their securingand holding function.

The inner brick wall comprises alternating, horizontal series of thickerand thinner bricks or refractories 21 and 22, respectively, each brick21 resting on the corresponding narrow ledge 17 of one of the bars 14and bearing against its abutment-rib 18, as is clearly shown, each suchbrick having a transverse'groove 23 in its top face to accommodate orreceive the retaining hook or flange 16 of the next higher bar 14, thatportion of the brick below the lower ledge of said upper bar being ofless depth than that part of the brick inwardly of the furnace beyondsuch ledge, all as is fully shown in Figure 1, the top surface of suchsection of the brick being practically on a level with the correspondingface of the adjacent wider ledge or shelf 15.

Each of the thinner bricks 22 rests in part on the associated ledge 15and also on the next lower brick 21, as has been fully depicted.

Thus the brick or refractory wall is composed of horizontal series ofbricks, all supported more or less directly or indirectly on the metalframework provided for that purpose, each brick 21 partially supportingthe brick 22 just above it.

To protect the inner face of such internal wall or lining from thedestructive effects of .the high temperatures prevailing in the furpace,and also incidentally to provide auxiliary means for the roduction ofsteam, this wall on its inner ace is supplied with vertical or uprightgrooves or channels 24" formed by using narrower bricks at those pointsin the structure.

In the present instance, every third brick ,in each horizontal layer orrou is of this narrower or shorter type, or -t e purpose indicated but,of course, such cavities or channels may be made as near together or asfar'a art as circumstances dictate may be desira file byv the mereproper use of the wider or longer and narrower or shorter bricks.

These surface channels or grooves are occupied by upright water-pipes 25connected together in any ap' ropriate manner, not necessary here to inicate, and such cooling ptilpes afford substantial protection to the ajacent bricks from the intense heat in the furnace, these pipes or tubesbeing supported independently of the inner wall and its framework.

If any brick 22, between the water-pipes or tubes, requires replacement,it can be readily slid out of place inwardly of the furnace between theadjoining pipes, and a new brick can be as readily inserted.

If any brick 21 between the pipes needs to be renewed, it is firstnecessary to take out the bricks 22 immediately below and above it, andthen the brick in question can he tilted upwardly, as shown in dottedlines in Figure l, to remove it from the ledge 17 and to release it fromthe hook portion 16, whereupon it can be withdrawn inwardly of thefurnace between'the pipes or tubes, thus permitting the putting in placeof a new brick or refractory, and its companion ones 22, by a merereversal of the specified operation.

In case either style of brick 21, or 22, behind one of the water tubesor pipes, necessitates renewal or replacement, this operation or resultcan be accomplished with facility by first taking out, in the mannerindicated, the brick 22 or the brick 21 and two bricks 22, as the casemay be, next adjacent to or alongside of the injured one or ones, andthen, by sliding the latter horizontally on its or their support, untilout of re ister with the pipe, removal can be e ected in the way alreadydescribed.

The manner of inserting the new brick or bricks and then sliding it orthem into position behind the water pipe or tube, and the installationof the next brick or bricks to complete the wall will be readilyunderstood from what precedes.

Thus it is possible to remove or place any brick or refractory in thewall with ease and dispatch, regardless of its location, and quitewithout interference or conflict with the water-pipe structure.

In Figure 4, a slightly modified construction is presented, in whichcase the water conduits 25, 25, do not occupy channels or groovesprovided in the inner face of the brick wall or lining, but they arepositioned inwardly away from the wall a small amount, hence eliminatingthe necessity for the use of the narrower or shorter bricks specified,the inner wall in this case being of substantially uniform thicknessthroughout.

Thelway or method of taking out or de- 'mounting any of these brickswill be obvious from the description alread given.

From the foregoing, it Wlll be understood that no brick of the innerwall is subjected to the'weight of others above it except that eachhorizontal row of bricks partially supports the row of filler bricksover it, but this is of no substantial conse( uence.

The wall as a whole and its lndividual elements may expand and contractwithout danger of damage to the refractory bricks or to thewater-cooling structure, and the bricks are not subjected to the actionof the heat and at the same time to any material pressure by reason ofsustaining the wallsect on above them.

In the forms of the invention illustrated, a slight space is desirablyleft between the top surface of each brick 22 and the under surface ofthe brick 21 above it, in order to allow for expansion of the partsinvolved, and without placing any pressure upon the adjoiningconstruction. i

The bricks or refractories of this inner Wall. whether the coolingwater-tubes are used or not, may be arranged indirect vertical rows asindicated in Figure 5, or, these bricks may be arranged in staggeredrelation as depicted in Figure 6.

In the. embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 7 and 8, which maybe used with or without the water conduits, as circumstances dictate,the bricks 21 and 22 and their horizontal supporting bars 14 are thesame as already-described, but the other parts of the structure aresomewhat different.

Instead of employing long upright bars 12, this style of wall hasshorter T-beam sections 31 to which the horizontal bars 14 are directlybolted as shown.

To support the members 31, I employ suitably-shaped brackets 32 of theform and style clearly depicted, which at one end are bolted at 33 tothe beams 10 and at the other end at 34 to the overlapping, adjacentends of the corresponding elements 31. i

As illustrated, the members 31 extend only 7 from one supporting bracket32 to the next one, but they may be of greater length if desired.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 7 and 8 relates moreparticularly to the manner of supporting the horizontal bars carryingthe bricks of the inner wall and all other features of the construction.are alike those presented hereinbefore.

While I have herein illustrated and described several embodiments of theinvention, it is to be borne in mind that the invention is susceptibleof other satisfactory embodiments in practical form differing more orless in mechanical structure from and an upper fixed latch engaging ina. groove in the top face of the brick, the wall including readilyremovable bricks immediately above and below said first brick, theremoval of the former permitting the demounting of the latter from theledge and latch. i l

3. In a furnace-wall construction, the combination of a plurality ofvertically-spaced supporting bars each of which has an upper supportingledge and a lower latch portion, rows of bricks each resting on saidledge of one such bar and held thereon by the latch portion of the nextupper adjacent bar engaging in a groove of the brick, and rows ofintermediate filler bricks resting at least in part on said rows ofsupported bricks.

4. In a furnace-wall construction, the combination of a plurality ofvertically-spaced supporting barseach of which has an upper supportingledge and a lower latch portion, rows of bricks each resting on' saidledge of one such bar and held thereon by the latch portion of the nextupper adjacent bar engaging in a groove of the brick, and rows ofintermediate filler bricks resting in part only on the latch portions ofsaid bars.

5. In a furnace-wall construction, the co1nbination of an upright metalframework, an upright wall of bricks supported on said framework,comprising alternate horizontal rows of bricks directly supported on theframework, and filler bricks between said rows of bricks and supportedin part. direct.- ly by the framework and in part directly by the next.lower row of bricks.

6. In a furnace-wall construction, the combination of a metal framework,an upright brick wall composed of alternate horizontal rows of brickssupported directly by the metal framework, and other alternatehorizontal rows of filler bricks supported in part directly by saidframework. v

7. In a furnace wall construction, the combination of a plurality ofvertically-spaced horizontal supporting bars each of which has an uppersupporting ledge and a lower latch portion. rigid therewith and rows ofbricks each resting on said ledge of one such barand held thereon by thelatch portion ofthe next bar engaging in a groove of thebrick.

8. In a furnace-wall construction, the combination of asubstantially-upright metal framework, horizontal vertically-spaced rowsof bricks mounted on said framework, each such brick having directinterlocking engagement with said framework and indi vidually removablefrom said wall inwardly of the furnace, and rows of free filler bricksbetween said rows of supported bricks, the inward removal of said freefiller bricks directly above and below any such support ed brick beingrequired to permit the latter to be shifted sufliciently to release itsinterlocking engagement with said framework and permitting its removalfrom the wall.

9. In a furnace-wall construction, the combinationrof asubstantially-upright metal framework, horizontal vertically-spaced rowsof bricks mounted on and overhanging from said framework, each suchbrick having direct interlocking engagement with said framework andindividually removable from said wall inwardly of the furnace, and rowsof free filler bricks between said rows of supported bricks, the inwardedgewise removal of said free filler bricks directly above and below anysuch supported brick being required to permit the latter to be rockedvertically sufficiently to release its interlocking engagement with saidframework and permitting its removal from the wall.

10. In a furnace-wall construction, the combination of asubstantially-upright metal framework. horizontal vertically-spaced rowsof bricks mounted on said framework, each such brick having directinterlocking engagement with said framework and individually removablefrom said wall inwardly of the furnace, and rows of free filler bricksbetween said rows of supported bricks and resting at least in part onthe latter, the inward removal of said free filler bricks directly aboveand below any such supported brick being required to permit the latterto be shifted sufficiently to release its interlocking engagement withsaid framework and permitting its removal from the wall.

11. In a furnace-wall construction, the combination of asubstantially-upright metal framework, horizontal vertically-spaced rowsof bricks mounted on said framework, each such brick having directinterlocking engagement with said framework and individually removablefrom said wall inwardly of the furnace, and rows of free filler bricksbetween said rows of supported bricks and resting at least in partdirectly on said metal framework, the inward removal of said free fillerbricks directly above and below any such supported brick being requiredto permit the latter to be shifted sufficiently to release itsinterlocking engagement with said framework and permitting its removalfrom the wall.

12. In a furnace-wall construction, the

frame-work and individually removable from said wall inwardl of thefurnace, and rows of free filler bric (s between said rows of supportedbricks and resting in part on the latter and in part directly on saidmetal framework, the inward edgewise removal of Said free filler bricksdirectly above and below any such supported brick being required topermit the latter to be rocked vertically sufficiently to release itsinterlocking engagement with, said framework and permitting its removalfrom the wall.

13. In a furnace-wall construction of the character described, thecombination of supporting means, bricks detachably mounted on saidsupporting means, and spaced cooling water-tubes inwardly in front ofthe wall composed of said bricks, the spaces between said tubespermitting the inward removal and reverse renewal of any of the bricksthrough such spaces, those bricks behind the tubes requiring horizontalshiftin on said supporting means to permit SUCl removal and renewal.

14. In a furnace-wall construction of the character described, thecombination of supporting means, bricks detachably mounted on saidsupporting means, certain of the bricks providing upright channels inthe inner face of such brick wall, and spaced cooling water-tubesoccupyin such channels, the spaces between said tu es permitting theinward removal and reverse renewal of any of the bricks through suchspaces, those bricks behind the tubes requiring horizontal shifting onsaid supporting means to permit such removal and renewal.

15. In a furnace-wall construction of the character described, thecombination of a plurality of vertically-separated bars, means tosupport said bars, each of said bars having a lower inwardly-extendedledge and a dependin hook flange, and having an upperinwardly-projecting ledge, horizontal rows of bricks having grooves intheir top surfaces each such brick bearing on the corresponding upperflange of one such bar and held in place by the hook flange of the nexthigher bar fitting in its top groove, horizontal rows of filler bricksbetween said rows of bricks, and spaced cooling water-tubes inwardly infront of the wall composed of said bricks, the spaces between said tubespermitting the inward removal and reverse renewal of any of the bricksthrough such spaces, those bricks behind the tubes requiring horizontalshifting on said supporting means to permit such removal and renewal.

16. In a furnace-wall construction of the character described, thecombination of a plurality of vertically-separated bars, means to suport said bars, each of said bars having a ower inwardly-extended ledgeand a depending hook flange, and having an upper inwardly-projectingledge, horizontal rows IOU of bricks havin grooves in their top faces,each such brick hearing on the corresponding u per -flange of one suchbar and held in ace by the hook flange of the next higher bar fitting inits top groove, horizontal rows of filler bricks between said rows ofbricks, said brick wall having upright spaced channelsin its inner face,and cooling water-tubes occupying said channels, the spaces between saidtubes permitting the inward removal and reverse renewal of any of thebricks through said spaces, those bricks behind the tubes requiringhorizontal shifting on said supportin'g means to permit such removal andrenewal.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set In hand.

y J AGK E. BIGELOW.

